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Friday, October 28, 2022 · sitting No. 120

Commons advances judges act reform after lengthy debate

The House spent the largest share of its time on government orders debating Bill C-9, an act to amend the Judges Act, at second reading. Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis said the bill must strengthen provisions to end salary and pension payments to judges facing serious misconduct charges and to limit their use of taxpayer funds for appeals. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux noted that time allocation had been applied to move the bill through second reading and that it still requires committee study plus report and third reading stages.

In question period the main exchanges concerned housing costs and the invocation of the Emergencies Act. Conservative MP Andrew Scheer said Bank of Canada rate hikes would force Vancouver families to find an extra $1,900 a month on typical mortgages and asked whether the government had been briefed on resulting home losses. Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan replied that a doubling of the GST tax credit would reach families in Hamilton and across the country within days.

Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill cited RCMP commissioner text messages showing reluctance to invoke the Emergencies Act before the Ambassador Bridge blockade and asked why the government had acted against police advice. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the measure had been required to protect workers, families and vulnerable citizens in an unprecedented situation.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – October 28, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2022-10-28

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenGovernment businessStatements By MembersQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:00Last speech 12:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 2 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
32Talk flowed, decisions did notThe House devoted most of its time to substantive debate, chiefly on the Judges Act, with no procedural disruptions. Yet no bills advanced and no votes were held, leaving the day without legislative result.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this

AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this

Other moments

Health

New Democrat MP Heather McPherson said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was threatening to withdraw from federal programs including the Canada Health Act and called on the government to protect universal public care. Health Minister Carolyn Bennett replied that the five criteria of the act must be met for transfers and that she would raise the issue at the upcoming health ministers meeting in Vancouver.

Read the exchange

Taxation

Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri said the government planned to triple the carbon tax on groceries, home heating and gasoline while 1.47 million Canadians had used food banks in a single month. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault quoted a Conservative Party official stating that opposition to a policy is not a policy and that Conservatives were refusing to contribute to the climate discussion.

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Justice

Conservative MP Eric Duncan said the Supreme Court decision striking down automatic registration of sex offenders should terrify every parent and victim and asked what the government would do to guarantee every offender remains on the registry. Justice Minister David Lametti said the decision was complex, that the government was examining options and that it stood with survivors of sexual violence.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said the government had accepted repeated U.S. refusals to suspend or modernize the safe third country agreement since 2017 and asked when it would act unilaterally under article 10. Immigration Minister Marie-France Lalonde replied that closing Roxham Road or suspending the agreement would not solve the main problem and that modernization remained the goal.

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Question Period, exchange by exchange

AI-rated Each answer’s rating (answered, partly answered, deflected, answered something else) is a model’s reading of the exchange. How the AI rates this

  1. misdirected
    HousingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the mortgage default question entirely and pivots to attacking the Conservative leader.The new Conservative leader has not answered a single question from journalists in nearly 50 days.
  2. deflected
    HousingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the debt and mortgage cost question by listing past Conservative votes instead.The day after they voted against providing supports to Canadians in the form of direct payments for Canadians having trouble paying the rent and the day after they voted against subsidizing dental care for Canadian children, this feigned compassion from the Conservatives is fooling no one.
  3. deflected
    HousingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the inflation and home-loss briefing question by shifting to GST credits and grocery prices.Canadians are seeing higher prices at the grocery stores, and that is why we doubled the GST tax credit.
  4. misdirected
    HousingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer does not address bankruptcy numbers and instead accuses Conservatives of raiding pensions.The Conservatives' economic plan involves raiding our pensions and attacking the country's EI system.
  5. misdirected
    HousingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades the bankruptcy and key-handover question by reciting past votes against Liberal programs.When we introduced the Canada child benefit, which puts over $13,000 in the pocket of a single mother in Canada, the Conservatives voted against it.
  6. partly answered
    Public SafetyMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the reason for invoking the Act but does not address the RCMP's reluctance.we decided to invoke the Emergencies Act because it was needed to ensure the safety and health of Canadians.
  7. partly answered
    Public SafetyMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The answer asserts it was a last resort but does not engage with the timeline or police advice contradiction.with all due respect to my colleague, the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act was a last resort.
  8. partly answered
    HealthMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms the Canada Health Act but does not address the timeline for federal action against Alberta.The Canada Health Act is very clear.
  9. partly answered
    HousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses foreign buyers but ignores corporate landlords and profiteering.That is why our government decided to implement an annual tax of 1% on the value of residential property owned by non-resident non-Canadians and to prohibit foreign investment for two years.
  10. deflected
    TaxationMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores carbon tax and relief plan, pivots to competition probe.That is why, back in May, I asked the Competition Bureau to look at the issue we are seeing around competition in the country.
  11. misdirected
    TaxationMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Quotes Conservative to attack asker instead of addressing carbon tax.I agree with the new director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada.
  12. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Scott Aitchison (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Avoids deficits and spending, repeats competition bureau talking points.Earlier this year, I asked the Competition Bureau to look at whether there have been any unlawful practices in this country.
  13. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Scott Aitchison (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Shifts to grocery CEOs and telcos, evades inflationary borrowing question.I also spoke to the telcos to make sure that we would reduce prices for Canadians should this merger go forward.
  14. partly answered
    HousingMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions GST credit but does not address mortgage renewal costs directly.That is why we doubled the GST/HST credit for 11 million Canadian households.
  15. deflected
    TaxationMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.Pivots to upcoming update and deficit stats without committing on taxes.We have one of the lowest deficits in the world.
  16. misdirected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Attacks Bloc leader on caribou instead of addressing oil export plans.Radio-Canada recently published an article under the headline "Woodland caribou: [the Bloc leader] draws the ire of biologists".
  17. misdirected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc Québécois record instead of addressing oil project approvals.I do not think the Bloc Québécois has any lessons to give anyone in the House on environmental assessments.
  18. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The response defends pandemic policies and attacks Conservatives rather than addressing spending or tax fairness.We will always use evidence, science and medicine as the bedrock of our decisions while Conservatives fight a war against it every day.
  19. partly answered
    FinanceMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the hotel choice and delegation but does not identify who slept in the room.All members of the official delegation, including two Conservative prime ministers, stayed at the same hotel, a hotel that could accommodate the delegation's size during extremely high demand.
  20. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Eric Duncan (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The minister acknowledges the ruling and review process but offers no specific plan or guarantee.We are looking at it carefully, and we are looking at options of how to move forward.
  21. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Eric Duncan (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The response references past action and ongoing review without committing to automatic registry inclusion.We will support victims. We will look at the possible options that we have moving forward, and we will move forward.
  22. answered
    The EconomyMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists concrete measures including GST credit, Competition Bureau action, and price freezes.In addition to doubling the GST tax credit for 11 million households in this country, the Competition Bureau has indicated that it will take action, thanks to the demands of this government.
  23. answered
    The EconomyMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer details requests to the Competition Bureau and direct calls to CEOs to address prices.I wrote to the Competition Bureau to ask it to start an investigation. In addition to that, I called the CEOs themselves and asked them to do their part for Canadians.
  24. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms support for LNG development but does not address the Prime Minister's business-case statement.LNG is one of the tools in our tool box, and our government is committed to supporting the development of the LNG sector.
  25. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to past oil imports and attacks the opposition instead of addressing LNG policy or global coal use.I find it a bit rich to hear the member opposite talk about foreign oil imports.
  26. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMr. Damien Kurek (Conservative) asked Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal). loaded question.Answer discusses general transition opportunities without addressing the call to end activism or allow oil and gas production.Those enormous economic opportunities will be enabled through the transition to a low-carbon future.
  27. misdirected
    Natural ResourcesMr. Tako Van Popta (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer quotes a Conservative official instead of responding to the question on resources and taxation.Instead of scoring cheap political points on Trudeau's carbon tax, Conservatives need to get serious and offer their own alternative
  28. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms duty to secure borders and mentions the safe third country agreement but does not address the specific point about Blinken or Roxham Road.The safe third country agreement is an important bilateral tool for managing claims.
  29. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.Answer rejects unilateral suspension and pivots to modernization without addressing the call to act on the agreement.Closing the road or suspending the agreement will not solve the main problem.
  30. deflected
    National DefenceMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Mr. Yasir Naqvi (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses pandemic measures and vaccination generally without addressing legality of the mandate for troops.That is why we made sure that we invested in vaccinations and got Canadians vaccinated as quickly as possible.
  31. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Answer dismisses the query as conjecture and supplies selective facts instead of addressing the messaging app or cover-up claims.in this House, speculation, conjecture and innuendoes are not facts.
  32. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Answer again labels the question as conjecture without engaging the specific allegations or resignation demand.I think the weakness of the member opposite's argument is solely based on the fact that virtually everything he said is based on conjecture and innuendoes.
  33. deflected
    TaxationMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to Competition Bureau actions and a bill vote instead of addressing taxes or food bank increases.The government is doing its part and I would ask the Conservatives to do their part by voting in favour of our bill to lower prices to help Canadian families.
  34. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative Party on climate costs rather than addressing the carbon tax increase or the constituent's dilemma.
  35. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Scott Reid (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms engagement with the RCMP but provides no timeline or decision on defibrillators.I have engaged my office to be in touch with the RCMP to ensure that it has all of the tools it needs.
  36. partly answered
    HealthMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes an upcoming ministers' meeting on health resources but offers no commitment to new funding.We look forward to that meeting, as it will be about a lot of the issues the member has raised, particularly how we expand health human resources
  37. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Alain Rayes (Independent) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general EI enhancements without specifying any implementation date for the 26-week sickness benefit.We are also taking into consideration what the member raised today.